"These kinds of increases may be driven by an increase in use, an increase in availability, an increase in purity or a change in the way people are using these drugs," she said.

"These issues not only impact individuals but also their family and friends, emergency services and the community more generally and we really need a united approach across government, local business and the community to address these issues."

The Turning Point research rated areas in the Moira Shire 10th on the list of regional ambulance ice-related call-outs.

Wodonga had one of the highest rates of call-outs for heroin-related incidents.

The chief executive of the Pennington Institute, John Ryan, says he believes people are still not taking the risks associated with using drugs, particularly ice, seriously enough.

"People aren't also getting to drug treatment effectively, particularly in regional areas, so problems are spinning out of control but we've seen it particularly with ice that a new drug has come onto the market in the last couple of years and it's really taking regional centres by storm," he said.